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Theodore R. "Ted" Wood, Supermarket Founder
- H. Theodore R. "Ted" Wood, Supermarket Founder1905 - 1971
- W. Melba M. Elsner1907 - 1990
m. Bef 1932
Facts and Events
About Ted Wood
Ted R. Wood was born 12 April 1905 in Linwood, Butler County, Nebraska, the son of William R. Wood [1865-1947] and his wife Elizabeth Weston [1865-1935]. [1930 & 1940 U.S. Census]. He was a graduate from the University of Nebraska. Ted came to Anaheim, California in 1923 and went to work with an oil company. Six months later, he opened his own service station in Santa Ana, California. Everything went fine until the "Great Depression" hit the U.S. economy in 1929, and he was forced out of the business. Shortly thereafter, he was offered a job as a clerk in a local supermarket from one of his friends. He came to Pasadena in 1931 to help open a new store and fell in love with the San Gabriel Valley, where he moved to Altadena, and stayed there until about 1970.
Prior to 1953, Ted Wood worked his way to to Store Manager for Southern California supermarket chain Alpha Beta, working at its store #17. In 1955, Ted and several other employees at the Alpha Beta store decided to get together and pooling their savings and experience, started a new supermarket, named Pantry Markets. Few thought it could compete with the large supermarket chains in the competitive Southern California market, but Pantry Markets grew over the next eleven years into a 17-store chain, located in primarily upscale neighborhoods from Arcadia to Costa Mesa in Southern California. In 1966, Pantry Markets had entered into negotiations with Texas supermarket chain Tom Thumb for a possible merger. (Note: Pantry Markets was acquired by Tom Thumb in 1966, but the stores continued under the Pantry Markets banner until the then 10-store chain was sold to Vons in 1986).
Ted married Melba M. Elsner bef. 1932. They had two children together, both born in California: son William "Billy" (born abt. 1932), and daughter Sheryll Myrick (born abt. 1937). Ted donated his time serving on several civic organizations including the Pasadena Kiwanis Club, Salvation Army, YMCA, AID, the Businessman's Association and the Altadena Chamber of Commerce. He also served on several food industry trade associations including the California Grocers Association and the Southern California Retail Grocers Association. Ted Wood was honored by the City of Altadena in 1960, when he received the Outstanding Citizen Award for his service to the commmunity.
Ted Wood passed away 30 October 1971 in Honolulu, Hawaii. His wife Melba lived another 19 years, passing away in 1990, also in Hawaii.
Image Gallery
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States. Pasadena Star-News
31 October 1971.
Pantry Markets founder Ted R. Wood dies, (obituary) .
Pasadena Star News, 10/31/1971, Page , Column , Article Size: Medium
Illustrations: Photos
- United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).
1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Theodore Wood
Age: 14
Birth Year: abt 1906
Birthplace: Nebraska
Home in 1920: Platte, Butler, Nebraska
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: Wm S Wood
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's name: Elizabeth Wood
Mother's Birthplace: Scotland
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Name Age
Wm S Wood 56
Elizabeth Wood 52
Martha Wood 23
Jennie Wood 20
Theodore Wood 14
Lucile Wood 9
- United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).
1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Ted R Wood
Gender: Male
Birth Year: abt 1906
Birthplace: Nebraska
Race: White
Home in 1930: Santa Ana, Orange, California
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Melba M Wood
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: Scotland
Occupation: Manager Gasoline Station
Attended School: No
Reads and Writes: Yes
Military service: No
Rent/home value: Rent/$3,250
Age at first marriage: 24
Household Members: Name Age
Ted R Wood 24
Melba M Wood 23
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T627).
1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Ted Wood
Age: 35
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1905
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Nebraska
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Riverside, Riverside, California
Street: Mayalin
House Number: 6819
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: Orange, California
Residence in 1935: Orange, California
Resident on farm in 1935: No
Sheet Number: 63B
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 306
Occupation: Proprietor
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 45
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: College, 3rd year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 48
Duration of Unemployment: 0
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Income: 3600
Income Other Sources: No
Household Members: Name Age
Ted Wood 35
Melba Wood 33
Billy Wood 8
Sheryll Wood 3
- Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).
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